In the New Year’s honours list which Boxing News puts out every year, the Hellraiser Boxing team were very pleased to see several of our fighters and fights picked out for praise. Here’s what was said in the magazine (mental note, run a Hellraiser Boxing honours list in 2019).

British Fights of the Year

Third in the top British fights of the year was Darryll Williams’ war with Jahmaine Smyle for the English title. The fight was an absolute belter, toe to toe for all ten rounds. Well done to Darryll, who in winning a split decision took Smyle’s English super middleweight title back to London with him. Darryll then defended the belt in July, against Smyle again, dropping the Leicester man in that one.

Asinia Byfield took on game John Brennan in the first defence of his Southern Area super welter title in February at York Hall. Boxing News gave that a special mention in the fights of the year. Asinia went through the gears, grinding a stubborn Brennan down until he was rightly waved unfit to continue in round six. Watch it here.

Most Improved Fighters of the Year

His second mention in the awards, of what was a great year, for the inimitable Asinia Byfield. Boxing News placed him among their most improved fighters in the world. D’Ghost stopped all three opponents in 2017, including unbeaten favourite Sammy McNess, went to war in “the Doghouse” at The Mayweather Gym with Gervonta Davis and got a feature length piece on that spar in The Sun. Here’s to more in 2018.

Who To Look Out For In 2018

Asinia and Darryll may have had great years in the ring, but one young man who only had his first fight in January 2017 was picked by the team at Boxing News as a prospect t keep an eye on. Step forward Gelasius Taaru! The featherweight had four fights, won three by knockout and had a two page feature on him in Big Write Hook magazine in December, and exceptional first year in the paid ranks.

Well done to all three Hellraiser boys, and to all of those who over and over stepped onto the canvas for our entertainment. Win or lose we’re proud of all of them. There will be much more to come from all the Hellraiser stable, no doubt. Let’s raise Hell in 2018!